The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, February 07, 1917, Image 1
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THE BUMtnR WAI'CIIN AN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not?Ler all the ends Thon Alms't at be thy Country's, Thy God's and Troth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jnnj, 1
Consolidated Au*. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, FE %XUARY 7, 1917. Vol.XLIII. No. 60.
GERMANY'S FAULT FOB WAR.
IIAfi FORCED IT, IF IT COMES,
BAYS FORMER PRESIDENT.
In Speech Pointing Need for Ijeagut
to Knforee Pence, Taft Declare*
Tew tons Have Violated Pledge.
Washington. Feb. 2.?Former Pres?
ident Tuft prefaced a prepared speech
on the league to enforce peace here j
tonight with a reference to the neu
Qenaan crisis declaring that If ffe<
United States wore drawn into w if
Germany woald force It by "her do
fiance of plain principles of jostles
and humanity which should obtain
between civilised nations."
"The responsibility which now rests
on the pr sldent and congress is very
heavy.' said Mr. Taft. "They should ;
know and do know that the American
people will back them to the end in
their decision. May God give them
good deliverance."
The former president was speak life;
before the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States and answering par?
ticular criticams by Theodore Rooot
volt, W. J. Bryan, Senator Borah and
others of the League to Enforce Peace
idea.
"1 had prepared this address," hu
?aid, "bet?re Germany startled this
country and all neutrals by her lust
note. The actual dangers with which
It brings us face to faee may seem
to make what I have been discussing
theoretical, tame and inapproprlato.
The truth ta, however, that this grout
crisis only emphasises the imports net
of the purpose and plan of the league.
"Of all 'thmgo^we would avoid
war." ho added. "We are not pre?
pared for It Its awful consequences
wo know, from Europe's suffering.
Our prayer la for some escape from
It in thin critical hour. If consistent
with our national honor. But we must
faao the avQts.
**, *ta her campaign against bor one
Man et?!**?* proposed ruthjeasly
%?* "-if, - afh? dp)w*&
to
y
la void of offense
it W. H?r erhol and Indcfcn
athta drowning without warning of
more than a hundred innocent Ameri?
cana on the Lusitania we condoned in
view of her pledge against a repeti?
tion That pledge is now withdrawn
and she avows her purpose to resume
her shocking course.
"If war is to come between us she
will be the unprovoked aggressor. We
would avoid being drawn into the
European vortex by eve^y honorable
concession. If she force* us Into It
she will do so by her defiance of plain
principles of justice and huma-?*"?>?
whlch should obtain between civilized
nations.
"In spite of her great strength and
marvelous efficiency, Germany's mani?
fest weakness has neen in a failure to
understand other peoples. She may
not know the spirit of the good na?
tu rod. tolerant, war hating giant she
now challenges. She may overesti?
mate, as she has done before in the
case of other nations, the Influence
of sordid motives, of the inertia of
comfort and of dissentient elements
among us which she may expect to
paralyse our action. 8he may stiv all
active patriotism in our people which
she does not suspect.
"She may push us at once Into a
league to enforce a just peace. She
may force us into an organization of
our potential military strennrth on the
one hand and Into a moral lead. >? h.n
In the malntenanco of International
Justice on the other. Thenceforth our
Isolation from the war* and welfare
of the rest of the world would be at
an end. When peace would come
the eyes of our people, la spite oj
warning* of statesmen who are look
leg backward, would be opened not
only to the wisdom but to the nocet
sltf of our leading the nations in*<> a
permanent world's league to enfo.
peace."
TO FIX NEW ELECTION DATES
SjmvIhI D??mocr?Mlc Committee Call? d
to Meet Tuesday to Arrange Pri
martCM to Fleet CoiigrcMmun at
ly Dote.
Columbia, Feb. 3.?The special
Democratic committee has boon cal
ed to meet In Columbia Tuesday la
change the dates for the elect log in
the Pfth district. It Is Rooesaery,
Gov. Manning has been informed, to
elect a congressman at the earli -i
possible moment. Private Bj4vltOi h
dlcate that an extra session of ooc
gress will be called for March 6.
All of the candidates have be n
called to rnret wltn the committee
they will be asked to waive the
rl ht? an to a second primary. T1
'*o highest men will run In the g<
?ral election.
NECESSITY BASIS FOB STEP.
MOST GERMANS REGARD IT AS
ABSOLUTELY NECE1SSARW
Tlii 11k Reckless War on Si lipping May
Win Though It Antagonizes Amer?
ica.
Berlin, Thursday, Feb. 1 (v?- ?n- j
don, Feb. 2,)?The attitude the I
German people in respect to t? *0W !
submarine policy, ascertained today i
from conversations with persons in j
various walks of life, is .hat the in- [
auguratlon of an unrestricted subma- j
rine campaign is dictated by stern
necessity and for self preservation and
that in such a life and death struggle
no regard can longer be paid to other
considerations.
The all absorbing question in every
discussion concerns the attitude of I
America.
Little criticism of the government |
is heard. Even a Socialist speaker in
the reichstag committee meeting to-1
day la reported to have aligned tho
, party behind the government on this
I decision. |
One heat's estimates of the number
I of submarines running to several hun
| dred and the conviction is exprersed
that the amount of tonnp.ge sunk
monthly can bo increased to approxi?
mately 1,000,000 tons, an addition
to a large amount of neutral tonn ige
which will be deterred from entering
the prohibited areas by some terror.
It Is declared that two to three
''months of operations on this scale
would, provided the United States
were not drawn into the war, bring
England to a point where she would
be willing to discuss terms.
The great likelihood that the stop
will precipitate a crisis in Germua
Amerlcan relations, severance of dip?
lomatic intercourse and perhaps fur?
ther consequences is generally recog?
nised and undoubtedly has taken into
account the government's calculation.
belief is often expressed
to a break with the United 8tate*, a
consummation which would be hailed
with Joy by an overwhelming ma?
jority.
Discussions in the reichstag com?
mittee revolve largely around the
question of the prospective result of
a campaign based on the number and
efficiency of submarines.
ALASKA DRY BILL PASSED.
Measure Already Adopted In Konnte
Receives Assent of Lower Bram-h
Also.
Washington, Feb. 2.?The Alaskan
I "bone dry" prohibition bill, already
. passed by tho senate, was pussed to
| day in the house w'thout a roll call
(after an unsuccessful fight to pre
i vent Its consideration.
! CONFIDENT OF WILSON'S POLICY.
Got. Manning Sends Message to Pres?
ident That South Carolina Stands
Squarely Behind Him.
Columbia, Feb. 3.?Gov. Manning
today commended the action of Prt et?
dent Wilson In breaking of* diplo?
matic relations with Germany. He
said that South Carolina stands
squarely behind tho president. The
governor sent a long telegram to the
president this afternoon expres ha
confidence and cooperation.
AUSTRIAN S1UP DAMAGED.
Put out of Commission as Soon as
Diplomatic Relations With Gor?
many Were Severed.
New York, Feb. 'J ?Police heal
that the Austrian freighter Hlmlll y i,
lying In New York bay, has been put
; out of commission since diplomatic re
1 lations were severed. Parti of the i -
fine were sma.-bed with crowbars
und axes.
CANADA VOTtl WAR CREDIT.
Premier Says $1:13,221.000 Required
for Coming Year.
Ottawa, Feb. 2.?The Canadian par.
liatnent has voted a Wat CTSdlt for the
coming year of 9000,000 000.
Sir Robert Burden in making n
statement on war expenditures yeatoi
day said that the present fiscal ye I
up to January 2o there ha- boon i
psoded 9S19,90l,IS| and that it II
estimated that the cost for the next
Regal year would be 1411,1X4,000,
The prime minister said that the ex?
penditure had been much greater than
was anticipated at the beginning of
the war. Out of the appropriation
of 1100,000,001 i large amount, he
? .? he hoped would he Available for
< rodttfl for tha British government foi
the purchase of munitions in Canada.
Hinan \
HIS H, LAST.
Ambassador Von Bernstorff Handed His
Passports This Morning.
Ambassador Gerard Replied From Berlin?Instructions
Cabled Him to Ask for Ijis Passports?Break With Austria
Hungary Expected to Follow Immediately.
Washington, Feb. 3.?Diplomatic relations with Germany were broken off
this morning. I
Passports were handed to t^ewiian Ambassador von Bernstorfl and Amer- j
ican Ambassador Gerard was^pftructed to request his of the German gov
eminent. |
President Wilson will address a jol nt session of congress at 2 o'clock this
afternoon and will explain the situation in detail and why this action was
taken.
The decision to Fever relations with Germany came after the cabinet
meeting yesterday and discussion of t he situation with senators.
In the conference with senators, President Wilson was led to believe that
this country will stand solidly behind him in breaking diplomatic relations
with Germany. '
Whether a break with Austria-Hungary would also result was not learn-,
ed definitely, but as Austria sanctione d Germany's action regarding subma?
rine warfare a break is cxpectc\ M it has not already taken place.
Secretary Daniels announced this morning that none but officials of and
regular employes at the navy yards w ould be admitted to such government
I reservations.
The United States also demaaiclc <i
that Germany release Bixty-four
Americans taken prisoners on prisict
ships by South Atlantic raiders. The
Americans were taken from the
steamers Georgic, Mount Temple, and
Voltaire. Sixty are confined in. the
prison camp at Westfalen. . ,
The break brings the Ut
to the verge of vfar. jNv
hav^.two ?m ola?;^?!?.,
(Lttlon. Cer
w
many is said to be prepared to pay
the price it will cost In the hope ot
shortening the war.
The administration is not unmind?
ful of the possibility of disturbance
by German sympathisers and steps
will be taken u> meet the situat'on.
At the capitol the news was receiv?
ed with approbation on every hand.
Democratic House Leader Kitchen
today told Republican Leader Mann
when the house convened that no ac?
tion was contemplated by the house
j today.
I Senator Tillmnn said: "I am mighty
glad of it. When I heard of the first
note I favored telling von I'ernstO'ff
to pack up his duds and go home to
'. his barbarians. Congress ought to
back up President Wilson like we did
McKinley."
Senator Lodge declared that he is
with the president. Senator Fletcher
said he thought last night it would
happen.
Ambassador von Bernstorff said he
was sorry, but expected it. "There
was nothing else left for the United
States to do." He assorted that he
expected President Wilson to keep up
I his peace efforts, possibly through the
Swiss government.
It has been announced that Spain
j will take over the diplomatic inter?
ests of the United States.
Ambassador Gerard's instructions
arc to close all consulates in Germany
as well as the embassy. All diplomat?
ic und consular officials will be
brought out of Germany. This makes
the severance more complete than is
usual In such cases.
Spanish Ambasndor Riauo said he
could not say whether Spain would
follow the course of the United Stales
In breaking relations with Germany.
No special orders for increasing the
guard at army and navy reservat'ons
and arsenals have been issued, but
each commanding officer has author
My to take the necessary steps.
Secretary Daniela said the winter
cruising orders of the Atlantic fleet In
Cuban waters have not been changed.
It is announced that ijermany's
diplomatic relations with the United
States would be assumed by Switzer?
land.
Washington, Feb. g,? Senator
Thomas introduced an amendment ?
the house revenue bill proposing a half
billion Issue of treasury notes to put
the nation In a "state of naval, mili?
tary preparedness." The notes Will
be payable to persons from whom the
government bought munitions, and
could he used to pay taxes. They are
to be redeemable in U?:ir,.
Measures that have been proposed to
protect the United States a gains* a'^V
conspiracy growing out of the braofli
With Germany will be considered by
the senate judiciary committee immc
I diately after the presidents address.
[ The senate adopted a resolution ask?
ing Secretary Daniels statement as to
the status of the six million dollars
appropriated to improve and equip
navy yards at Charleston, Norfolk,
New Orleans, Pudget Sound, Phila?
delphia, Boston, Providence for ship
construction. ? |
I ~ ICRS. BYRNE RECOVERING.
Paidoncd fay fipv. y Whitman on t>
^ difstuiidhia Tint She Will Not Vio?
late Law.
New York, Feb. 2.?Mrs. Ethel
Byrne, at a hospital is today recover?
ing from the effects of her hunger
strike as a protest against 30 days'
sentence for disseminating birth con?
trol information. She was pardoned
by Gov. Whitman on the understand?
ing that she will not break the law.
FIGHTING ON ALL FRONTS.
No General Battles Reported But At?
tacks on Trenches at Several Pobits.
New York, Feb. 5.?Berlin an?
nounces that German troops by a
counter attack yesterday regained the
greater portion of the trenches easv
I of Beaucourt on the Somme front, re
! oently captured by the British. A
British attack north of Beaucourt was
repulsed.
Petrograd says the German attack*
on the Riga front have been repuls?
ed.
German raids south of the Somme
have been beaten off, according to
Paris reports.
All the war capitals are apparently
engrossed in watching developments
in the German-American situation.
MARRIED AT RISIIOPVILLE.
Augusta, Gu., Postmaster Takes a
South Carolina Bride.
Blshopvllle, Fen. 3.?A marriage >f
much interest took place here today at
12 o'clock at the home of the brid<
on Church street, when Mrs. Anna
McDowell McLeod, of Bishopville, am'.
Col. John W. Clark, of Augusta, Ga.,
were married. The Rev. G. P. Wat?
son, pastor of the bride, performed
the ceremony. Mrs. McLeod is wido.v
0 fthe late Dr. U. Q. McLeod, of this
place, and was before her first mar?
riage Miss Anna McDowell, of Can
don. Col. (.Mark is a well known u i I
1 ighly honored Citizen of Augusta. Ii.
held the office of sheriff of Richmo i 1
county, Qa? for sixteen ye .rs and re
signed to become postmaster <>i
Augusta, which position lie now holds. ,
The bridal party left Immediately for 1
i
Columbia, after which tiny will go to
their future home in Augusta.
FOR WEATHER STATION.
Senate Passes Bill for Greenville
Plant.
Washington, Feb. 2.?Senator ??
D. Smith today secured passage in
the senate of his bill as an amen
ment to the agricultural bill pro* d
inp- for an appropriation <>f $2o,oon
to equip and establish a branch f>f
the United states weather bureau at
Greenville. Por many reasons Sena?
tor Smith believes Greenville an Ideal j
location for such ? Ptation und he
thinks that the best Interests of the
government would bo served by sui-hj
establishment.
AWAITING mm MOVE.
UNITED STATES WILL TAKE NO
AGGRESSIVE ACTION IMME?
DIATELY.
Course of Government Will Be Shap?
ed by Action of Germany in Carry?
ing Out Threat to Wage Unrestrict?
ed Submarine War fa it*?Preskh nl
Wilson Still Hope* Tliat Force (if
Neutral Opinion May Yet Brim;
About Ponce.
Washington, Feb. 5.?The govern?
ment began a vigil today that may be
broken momentarily or may be long |
drawn out. It is believed that the
United States' course will be shaped
immutably as Germany makes ef
fective the unrestricted warfare order.
President Wilson hopes, however, that
hostilities may be avoided and that
the force of neutral opinion may
bring about peace.
It has not been revealed if any re?
sponses have been received from neu
trals respecting the president's sug
gestion that they follow the Unite
States' example and break diplomatic
relations with Germany. It appears
irom the reports received that the
sinking of the Ho?satonlo was hot
illegal. iShe was carrying contraband,
a cargo Of wheat. The ship recc:\
warning from the submarine and the
crew was saved.
Germany's acquiescence to the Unit?
ed States* demands for the release of
? Americans taken from ships sunk y
the German raider is regarded as
showing a conciliatory attitude.
Although ofllcials refused to admit
that the formal announcement of
Austria's adhesion to Germany's sub
t marine position had been received, it
is before the government and the ac?
tion to be taken is being considered.
A resolution endorsing the prest
\ dent's action in severing German re
j lations was introduced in the senate
j by Chairman Stone, chairman of the
j foreign relations committee. Scna
j tor Stone requested that the rosotu
. tlon go over, and tf.1s-.way do ie v-it U
! dirt'Vttbute. " N?? m
j Arrangements are being made loi
1 all German consular officials in the
I United States to accompany Ambas
I sador von Bernstorff out of the coun
, try. ' A party of more than three
? hundred w ill probably go via Cuba
'and Spain. President Wilson has ap?
pealed to congress to dispose of all
I routine matters and have the decks
cleared for any eventuality. He wains
j congress to be ready in case he is
forced to address it again to give him
j authority to use the resources of the
I country to protect American ships
I and lives.
J Customs Collector Malone Of New
j York reported today that a bomb
i hail been found under his bouse,
i
Ambassador von Bernstorff and
; Consuls plan to leave the United
States via Key West. President \\ il
I son conferred with Secretaries Baker
and Daniels today, discussing ways
for expediting legislation to empower
the government to take over Bhip
! yards and munition plants if it should
j become necessary. A railroad bill
j without compulsory arbitrating, but
j empowering the president to to'ce
charge of the railroads in war time
! was reintroduccd in the hou: e.
i
SINKING FUND HAS LOSS.
; Bij* Loss in 1016 Duo to Fires at Ne?
gro State College at Oraageburg.
Columbia, Feb. 2. - "Atter payment
of the expenses and heavy lire losses
incurred during the year 11*10 t ie
assets of the insurance sinking fund
amount to $147,115.56 on December
31," says the report of D. H. Means,
secretary of the sinking fund com?
mission.
During the 14 years of its operation
[prior to 1916 tin? insurance depart?
ment of the sinking fund commission
carried Insurance upon public prop?
erty very profitably, an average oi 5
per cent, of receipts during th? ie
years being carried to assets after the
payment of all expenses and lire id ;
cs. Last year the expenses am
tire losses exceeded the income by
* 1,016.23 due to the heavy losses at
the State negro college at Orangeburg.
The department is carrying $2,811,*
767.48 on public buildings in South
Carolina. Fifty-live per cent, is
placed with the old line companies.
Mrs. Will Smith of Lynchburg. S.
C, died at Floreno infirmary yest< -
day morning after an Illness of a bo it
three Weeks. She leaves two brol
v.rs and one sister, g. a. Lentmon, of
Suinter, s. c. w. E. Lemmon >f
Lynchblirg and Mrs. Alice Keels of
Nynchburg, 8. C. Three daughters,
and three sons, W. K. Smith of Clio, 8.
C, R. A. Smith, W. M Smith. Miss
Estelle Smith, Mrs. W. R. Kilpatri <
and Mrs. R. B, Joye of Lynch burg, S.
C. Her funeral services will be held
at her home today. ? Floren? e Times.
SPEED UP SHIP WORK.
DAMMS ASKS CONGRESS FOR
AUTHORITY TO COMMANDEER
PRIVATE PLANTS IF
NECESSARY.
Chairman Padgett in Speech on Sub?
ject Appeals to Patriotism of
House?Would Amend Naval Bill.
Washington, Feb. 3.?To insure
quick construction of naval vessels
anu manufacture of ammunition and
equipment for which private plants
are under contract, Secretary Daniels
asked congress today for authority to
commandeer such plants if necessary
i and operate them in the public ser
! vice.
, A draft of the proposal sent to the
house by the secretary was presented
to Chairman Padgett, of the naval
committee, as an amendment to the
annual naval bill on which debate was
just closing.
"This is an hour of reflection and
serious consideration," said Mr. Pad?
gett. "I address myself to the pa?
triotism ar.J wisdom of the house.
There is no partisanship in consider?
ing the navy. Under the circumstances
I at this time, that sentiment linds cor?
dial expression from every member.
This is not the hour to hesitate."
Several Republicans expressed simi?
lar sentiments, urging that the naval
I bill be brought to passage as quickly
as possible, but others on both sides
of the house entered objections against
the commandeering amendment.
Speaker Clark interrupted the discus?
sion to ask why warships could not be
constructed more rapidly and to urge
the naval committee to employ every
means to speed up building.
General debate was concluded today
and detailed consideration of amend?
ments will begin Monday.
FIRE DAMAGES CHURCH.
1 iist Baptist Church at Darlington
Suffers Heavily Fr^m Blase.
2 near
e this
4.?ThV large
r*irst Baptist church caught fire
afternoon in the basement and the
interior of the church, the organ and
j furnishings were badly damaged by
fire and water. The firemen, who
J did splendid w?rk in extinguishing the
Harnes, had great difficulty in getting
i at the fire for some time but finally
' got it under control and saved the
building. This church was buit sev?
eral years ago at a cost of about
I $35,000 and is one of the largest
' churches in the State.
? The whole inside of the building
will have to be done over and the dam?
age to the organ, pews and other fur
S nitUrt cannot be estimated at this
' time. The buildiim and furnishings
! were insured for $25,000, which will
' likely cover the damage.
Rev. Howard L. Weeks, pastor of
the church, had been conducting a re
' rival meeting for the past three weeks
1 and the last service was to have been
j held in the church tonight. Dr. Paul
I A. Bagby. a distinguished preacher of
I the Baptist denomination, had been
! pi eaching a series of very strong ser
' mons during the revival, which has
! beer, attended by the people of all de
I nominations.
REVENUE BILL PASSES HOUSE.
j Will bo Taken up in Senate Within
Very Few Days.
Washington, Feb. 1.?The adminis?
tration revnue bill framed to meet
the prospective treasury deficit next
year was passed by the house late to?
day, by a vote of 211 to 196. It will
be taken up In the senate in a few
days.
Republicans, whose attacks on the
bill and demands for a retain to
higher tariff rates had featured the
debate, voted solidly against the
measure and were joined by the Pro?
gressives, Representative London of
New York, the Socialist, and four
Democrats?Representative Caldwell,
New York; Callaway. Texas; Dough*
i ton and Pago, North Carolna. Voting
with the Democratic majority w ere
I Representative Kent. California, ln
' dependent, and Randall. California,
Prohlbltionis .
Tile 1 ill is designed to raise about
1 (248,000,000 to meet extraordinary
military and ni ral expenses. It also
authorises bond issues aggregating
$100,000,000 to cover the purchase of
the Danish West Indies, Alaskan rail*
roa l expenditures and other perma?
nent investments.
Washington, Feb. 4.?Reelection of
executive officers including Rhett of
Charleston, president, was announced
today by the directors of the Cham?
ber of Commerce of the United States,
Which held its annual meeting here
last week. . ,